Congressional Gold Medal Honors Fallen US Service Members Amid Political Dispute

House Speaker Mike Johnson posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to 13 US service members who perished during the Kabul airport evacuation. The event became a political battleground as both Democrats and Republicans argued over the mishandling of the withdrawal. Leaders called for memory, accountability, and transparency.

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday posthumously presented Congress' highest honour, the Congressional Gold Medal, to 13 US service members who were killed during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. The ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, honored those who died alongside more than 170 Afghans in a suicide bombing at Kabul's Abbey Gate in August 2021.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged lawmakers to ensure that the sacrifices of servicemembers were not in vain, emphasizing the need to care for bereaved families and uphold the values of freedom and democracy. However, the event was overshadowed by political tensions, as Republicans criticized President Biden's handling of the evacuation.

Top military and White House officials attended the ceremony, where Johnson apologized to the grieving families, stressing that the government should have done more to protect the soldiers. Investigations into the withdrawal continue to generate partisan debate, with both Biden and former President Trump facing scrutiny for their roles in the crisis.

(With inputs from agencies.)